Harsh environment sensor system and detection methods

• US 8,924,182 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2009
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Berkcan, Ertugrul, Hardwicke, Canan Uslu
• Primary Examiner(s): Teixeira Moffat, Jonathan C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BETSCH, REGIS J
• Application Number:
  US12/510,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,981 Days
• Field of Search: 702/182, 340/539.26
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/10 Power supply of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/86 Performing a diagnostic of the sensing device
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A system for measuring a plurality of operating parameters of an object in a harsh environment is provided. The system includes a first energy transceiver system configured to transceive energy signals. The system also includes a transcieved modulant coupled to the first energy transceiver system. The system further includes a second energy transceiver system at least partially disposed on the object and capable of being interrogated by the first energy transceiver system. The second energy transceiver system still further includes a sensing system. The system also includes a processor coupled to the first energy transceiver system. The processor is configured to determine of the plurality of the operating parameters of the object in the harsh environment based upon the transceived modulant.

Claims

1. A rotary machine comprising:

a stationary part;

a moving part;

a first system positioned adjacent to or on the stationary part;

a second system positioned on the moving part and configured to have an impedance which varies in response to changes in operating conditions of the moving object, wherein the second system consists essentially of no active electronics;

an interrogation channel between the first and second systems, wherein the second system is configured for, when interrogated by the first system through the interrogation channel, communicating via near field magnetic or near field inductive coupling with the first system through the interrogation channel, wherein the communicating results from a modulation of an impedance of a circuitry of the first system in response to modulations of the impedance of the second system; and

a processor for determining a plurality of operating parameters of the moving part of the rotary machine based upon the modulated impedance of the circuitry of the first system.

2. The rotary machine of claim 1, wherein the second system comprises a sensor component and a resonance circuit.

3. The rotary machine of claim 2, wherein the sensor component comprises at least one of a nano-scale device, a micro-scale device, and a meso-scale directly printed device.

4. The rotary machine of claim 2, wherein the sensor component comprises a capacitor.

5. The rotary machine of claim 4, wherein the capacitor comprises a dielectric element disposed on the moving part.

6. The rotary machine of claim 2, wherein the sensor component comprises an inductor.

7. The rotary machine of claim 1, wherein the operating parameters comprise at least two of a temperature, strain, pressure, clearance, and displacement.

8. The rotary machine of claim 1, wherein the second system comprises an operating parameter responsive material comprising at least one of a magnetic permeability material, a dielectric material, a Curie point material, and a permittivity material.